‘Oh, yes, of course. Thanks.’ Josie took a deep breath and shifted from one foot to the other. ‘You played “Chasing Cars”. That was the song that was played at her engagement. It meant a lot to her and Sam… Actually it was…theirsong.’
Clearly horrified, Greg’s eyes widened and he inhaled sharply. ‘Oh my God. No fuckin’ wonder she ran out.’ He covered his face with one hand and blew out a huge breath, as if letting all the air from his lungs escape. ‘Please… oh fuck, oh I’m sorry to swear, but fuck. Please tell her I’m so, so sorry. Fuck. What a fucking idiot!’
‘Hey, Greg, you weren’t to know. Honestly don’t beat yourself up, eh?’ Josie was trying to reassure the broad, six foot plus man who had almost visibly shrunk away to nothing in front of her.
‘Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Oh, God sorry, my language.’
Upstairs Mallory had to stifle a giggle at his reaction. She couldn’t help it.
Mallory heard Brad shout from somewhere towards the kitchen, ‘Don’t worry, mate, Josie has said much worse.’Hmm, he has a point.
Greg shook his head. ‘Every time I see that girl I seem to put ma fuckin’ size ten in my mouth. I’m going to go before I do any more damage to the poor wee lass. As if she hasn’t been through enough, eh?’ He turned to go, a look of despair played over his features. ‘Seriously, please tell her I’m so sorry. I’ll be keepin’ out of her way I reckon.’
Mallory’s heart sank a little at his words. Poor Greg. It wasn’t his fault.
Josie shook her head and held up a halting hand. ‘That won’t be necessary, Greg, honestly. You weren’t to know. You’renotto blame.’ Mallory was glad that Josie did her best to try and relieve his anguish but he turned and walked away, muttering expletives at himself as he went.
*
Sunday brought the sad reality of goodbyes. Renee had to fly back to Canada to be with her family. She was missing her little grandson and after all, she couldn’t stay in Scotland indefinitely. They stood at the taxi which had pulled up and been loaded with her bags and she hugged Mallory as if she never wanted to let go.
Renee choked back tears. ‘Now you listen, young lady. You had something so special with my son. He adored you and that makes you family. I’m going to send plane tickets, so you must come to stay soon, okay?’
Mallory nodded, wiping away her own tears.
Renee placed her hands on Mallory’s shoulders. ‘Please don’t sit home feeling sad though, honey, you’re young and you mustnotlet this terrible grief become who you are. Sam would hate for you to sit around looking so sad.’ She kissed Mallory and cupped her cheek. ‘He always said what a beautiful smile you have and he was right, darling. You and I know that Sam would have wanted you to make the most of this new adventure here in Scotland. He was so excited about being here with you.’
After another embrace, Renee slid into the back seat of the car and closed the door. She dabbed at her face with a lace handkerchief and rolled down the window. ‘Promise you’ll visit soon?’
‘I promise, Renee.’
The car pulled away and Mallory raised her hand to wave. Josie stepped forward and slid her arm around Mallory’s shoulder and hugged her as they turned to walk back inside.
During the week that followed, Brad and Josie helped Mallory to finish unpacking and they even managed to convince Mallory to put her photographs out on display. That particular task had been difficult. But they had all laughed at the one showing the four of them at a 1970’s fancy dress bash last New Year. Sam had sported an afro wig, long moustache and fake chest hair. His flares were a little too snug and he had spent the whole evening readjusting himself as the others made fun. Brad had been a hippy dude with long hair and round glasses. He’d had to defend his choice of outfit, insisting it was akaftanand not a dress. It felt so good to laugh.
After they had given all the framed pictures a new home, Josie made coffee whilst Brad went out to buy beer for the evening.
Josie brought the coffee through to the lounge and sat next to Mallory on the couch, nudging her shoulder gently. ‘So, honeybun. What do you think you’ll do now?’ she inquired.
‘About what?’
‘Well, will you sell up and come home to Yorkshire? Will you stay here?’
Mallory sighed. ‘Oh, Josie, I honestly don’t know. My mind keeps swaying to and fro on the matter. One minute I’m definitely staying here and another I feel it would be best to leave. But Sam wanted to be here and so my overriding feeling is that I should stay and make a go of things just how we hoped. With Sam’s life insurance paying off the mortgage, staying would be okay financially. But… then again I do worry that I’ll be lonely. Back in Yorkshire I have you, Brad, the shop…’ She hoped Josie realised the weight of such a decision and that it was not a decision she could attempt to influence.
As if reading Mallory’s mind, Josie said, ‘You have to do what’s right foryou, babe. Never mind us. You know you’ll still see us. I’ve said it before, you can’t get shot of us that easily you know.’ Josie laughed. ‘Brad and I are going to go home tomorrow. Maybe you need some time to adjust. You can’t really do that until we’re out of your way.’
Mallory shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Maybe you’re right. But I wish you didn’t have to go.’
‘Me too, Mally, but the shop won’t reopen itself. We all need to get back into a normal routine. Brad has had a few calls asking when he’s free to do a kitchen for that family in Adel, that he worked for before, and he really should take the work.’
The shop in Leeds had been displaying a ‘Closed until further notice due to bereavement’ sign for over three weeks and Brad had dropped everything to be with his girlfriend and her best friend. He was quite a guy, Mallory thought. But they were right. The time had come for Mallory to move onward. It was going to be the most difficult time of her life, apart from the death of Sam, but she needed to move on.
*
Two weeks into May, Brad and Josie packed up their belongings into Brad’s old van. It was time for another goodbye. Mallory had said far too many of them recently and they weren’t getting any easier. She tried hard not to give in to her emotions but failed miserably.
Josie clung onto her friend. ‘Oh, don’t cry, babe. We’ll come up in a few weeks for your birthday! It’s the big three-oh! We’ll take you out if you like. Or we could stay in, whatever you want. Let’s see how you feel, eh?’ Josie kissed Mallory and climbed into the passenger seat before she too erupted.
